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Renewed Hope : Senate backs Umahi’s initiative on tax credit scheme of the Federal Ministry of Works, with the aim of bridging the gap in financing road infrastructure
In keeping with his commitment to the tenets of checks and balances and separation of powers emphasized by the Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria,*His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR* the Honourable Minister of Works, *His Excellency Sen Engr Nweze David Umahi CON* led the critical departments of his Ministry to honour the invitation of the Senate Commitee on Finance on an interactive session in respect of the funding of critical roads, NNPCL Funding and Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme held at the Conference Room of the Senate on 22nd February 2024.
As part of the powers of oversight by the National Assembly, the Senate Commitee on Finance ably chaired by Distinguished Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, CON invited the Federal Ministry of Works to ascertain the level of performance of the funding of the road projects captured under the Tax Credit Scheme, the rationale behind the creation of the Federal Government’s Executive Order No. 007 of 2019 passed by the past administration and the constitutionality of the Executive Order, having regard to section 80 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. As part of his remarks, the Senate Committee Chairman said, “We need to know the beneficiaries of that tax credit and the essence of the job that they have done today. Having said that, going also by what you said, funds should all come to the Federation account. Appropriation is a different thing. Road is not the only problem we have in this country. We equally have challenges with health and others. So when this money comes into the pool, the federation account, we can now appropriate accordingly”
The subject of discussion, as it where, provoked different points of conversations by the Distinguished Committee members, after which the Hon. Minister of Works was given the floor to address the concerns raised by the committee members. He gave an overview of the structure and the status of the Tax Credit Scheme as well as the philosophy behind the creation of the Executive Order, which, according to the Honourable Minister, was a product of the decision by the National Economic Council under the past administration, designed to fill the funding gap in the road infrastructure development through fronting loading of Tax by the private sector to fund eligible road projects. According to the Hon. Minister, this scheme would incentivise the private sector to participate in the efficient and effective development of roads across their economic corridors and industrial clusters, which provide value for money. The programme, which has so far attracted funding for about 85 highway projects, is receiving funding from Dangote Industries, Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Ltd (NLNG), Nigeria National Petroleum Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL),MTN Nigeria Telecommunications Ltd. He also spoke on the Ministry’s efforts in scopping the projects and making sure that design complies with the word’s best standards. He added that aggressive supervision was helping in ensuring quality project delivery across the nation.
The Minister gave an example of Benin- Warri road being done under the Credit Scheme and explained the innovations introduced by the Ministry under him to bring enduring solutions to the road failures. He said. “Then we now have from Benin to Warri. That’s where some of the projects are listed. If you look at the documents we submitted, you will see that we analyzed the project zone by zone. And so we also looked at the nature of the roads from Benin to Wari. It’s also a very terrible situation. So we began to fight with the contractors, and I said there is no amount of asphalt you use on this road that will stand. So what we did was to excavate all the soil up to 1 meter depth, fill back with 500cm lumps, fill back with 400cm sand. And then now go back to fill with stone base, allow it for traffic to be on it. After 30 days, then you put an additional 10cm stone base. That is 55% cement. And then you have to use concrete.
He also said that the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund ( PIDF) was established for other strategic and critical projects that are capable of carrying Average Daily Trafick of 10,000 vehicles per day, including Abuja- Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway. According to the Honourable Minister, ” Mr. President has just approved that the critical projects under PIDF be funded. I’m still pushing for the release of money based on Mr. President’s directive, and that is for Abuja-Kaduna,-Zaria-Kano Highway, it is very key and very important to Mr. President. But I have an issue with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and I’ve just set up a committee to go and jointly review the project because they are asking for N1.5 trillion for that 375-kilometer dualized road. And for me, it is not justifiable.”
The Distinguished Senators were generally happy with the explanations given by the Hon. Minister of Works on the importance of the Tax Credit Scheme and the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, the funding performance so far and why it may not come as an appropriation, being that the funds are still the money in the hands of the private sector front loaded for some years in the future.
The Senators spoke in turns starting from the former Chairman Senate on Works, *His Excellency Senator Mohammed A. Aliero*, who spoke in defence of the Tax Credit Scheme: “It (the Tax Credit Scheme) came because of the infrastructure deficit we have in the country, which budgetary provision can not be enough to meet it. If we continue budgeting the way we are budgeting, believe me, it will take us 30 to 40 years before we can complete road rehabilitation and other repairs. The only way we can do it is to look for extra funding. And to the best of my knowledge, the State Governors were fully involved in this tax related scheme. There was a meeting between the President and the Governors. The President told them that we have a very serious infrastructural deficit in the country, and the only way we can attend to it is to use tax credit. And they all agreed, ”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, in his concluding remarks, said, “My conclusion is that the committee will look at all that we have just heard from you ( the Hon. Minister) and make our decisions. But based on what we have heard from you, we are convinced that the Tax Credit policy of the Federal Government is a welcome initiative, which is worthwhile and we believe that every exigency has a purpose for which that period needs. And that is what called for the Presidential Order. And what we will appeal to both NNPC, Federal Ministry of Works, and the contractors are to make sure that those projects are completed”
With this wonderful executive- legislature understanding and reciprocity in tackling the economic challenges facing the country, one can be sure that the administration of Mr. President is on the steady part of binging economic prosperity to our country.
President Bola Tinubu has accepted the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and approved the appointment of Tunji Disu as Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect.
Our correspondent had earlier reported that Egbetokun tendered his resignation letter on Tuesday, citing pressing family considerations.
Appointed in June 2023, Egbetokun was serving a four-year term scheduled to conclude in June 2027, in line with the amended provisions of the Police Act.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President received the letter earlier on Tuesday and expressed appreciation for his service to the nation.
He also commended Egbetokun’s “decades of distinguished service to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation,” acknowledging his “dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to strengthening internal security architecture during his tenure.”
“In view of the current security challenges confronting the nation, and acting in accordance with extant laws and legal guidance, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to serve as Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect.
“The President is confident that AIG Disu’s experience, operational depth, and demonstrated leadership capacity will provide steady and focused direction for the Nigeria Police Force during this critical period,” the statement read.
It added that in compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, the President will soon convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to formally consider Disu’s appointment as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing national security, strengthening institutional capacity, and ensuring that the Nigeria Police Force remains professional, accountable, and fully equipped to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
President Bola Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The signing ceremony took place at the State House, Abuja, at about 5:00pm on Wednesday, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance.
The National Assembly had on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill.
The latest amendment comes amid intense public debate over the electronic transmission of election results in real time.
Last week, protests erupted at the National Assembly complex as civil society organisations and opposition figures mounted pressure on lawmakers to mandate live transmission of results from polling units directly to INEC’s central server.
The protesters argued that real-time transmission would reduce result manipulation and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and some stakeholders have raised concerns about the technical feasibility of live transmission, particularly in communities with weak telecommunications infrastructure. They have argued for a phased or hybrid approach that would allow manual collation where electronic systems fail.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday spent the second night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as his lawyer, A.U Mustapha (SAN), pushes for his release on bail.
There are, however, indications that the commission may seek a remand order to extend his stay in custody to enable him to respond to questions posed by investigators handling his matter.
The former governor arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday around 10 a.m. for questioning in connection with an alleged N432bn corruption probe. He was, however, detained at the commission, where investigators continued to grill him.
An official of the commission who pleaded anonymity said the anti-graft agency was considering obtaining a remand order after the expiration of the hours allowed by law to enable investigators conclude questioning him.
“Forget the speculations being peddled on social media that he has been released. He has not. El-Rufai is still with us and will be spending another night in custody.
“He is very much with us and will remain so because the investigators are considering getting a remand order after the expiration of the 48 hours allowed by law.
“The investigators need some time with him to answer questions arising from his eight years as governor in Kaduna State,” the source said.
Speaking in a telephone conversation with The PUNCH on Tuesday, El-Rufai’s counsel, Mustapha, confirmed that the former governor remained with the anti-graft agency, while insisting that his client had fully cooperated with investigators.
He described his client as a responsible citizen who is not a flight risk if granted bail.
Mustapha said, “Well, as a responsible citizen, he was invited and, true to his word, he honoured the invitation.
“As we speak, he is still with the EFCC. He is cooperating to the best of his capacity, and we hope that the EFCC, given its integrity, will be kind enough to admit him to bail because he is presumed innocent, and I am sure if he is granted bail, he will not jump bail.
“He is a responsible citizen, and everybody knows him. He came to Nigeria on his own volition. He wrote a letter that he was going to honour the EFCC invitation, and he kept his word as a man of integrity. We’re hopeful that very soon he will be granted bail.”
When asked about the specific allegations against his client, Mustapha declined to offer details.
“You’re asking the right question from the wrong person. That question can only be answered by the EFCC and not by me. I would just be speculating, and lawyers don’t do that.”
Pressed further on whether he witnessed parts of the interrogation and what it was about, Mustapha responded, “That would be prejudicial. It’s a confidential matter and not meant for public consumption.”
The EFCC’s interrogation is linked to the report of an ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly set up in 2024 to probe finances, loans, and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 during El-Rufai’s administration.
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Rep backs real-time electronic transmission of election results
The committee, chaired by Henry Zacharia, had alleged that several loans obtained during the period were not utilised for their intended purposes.
While presenting the report, the Speaker, Yusuf Dahiru Leman, claimed that about N423bn was allegedly siphoned under the former governor’s administration.
The committee recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and some former cabinet members over alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering, contract awards without due process, and reckless borrowing.
The Assembly subsequently forwarded petitions to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
El-Rufai has denied the allegations, describing the probe as politically motivated, and insisted that loans obtained during his tenure were properly appropriated and used for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security.
On Monday, an EFCC source said the commission had been investigating the matter for about a year, noting that suspects are usually invited after investigations have reached an advanced stage.
“The commission has been investigating him for about a year now. As a commission, we don’t just rush to invite suspects. Persons accused are always the last; that is, after we might have done our investigation to an advanced stage.
“We are investigating him on the allegations against him by the Kaduna State Assembly,” the source said.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Department of State Services has filed criminal charges against El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
According to the charge sheet, El-Rufai allegedly admitted during a February 13, 2026, appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme that he and unnamed associates unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s communications.
Count One alleged that El-Rufai “did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu,” an offence said to be punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act.
Count Two accused him of acknowledging knowledge of an individual involved in the alleged interception without reporting it to security agencies, while Count Three alleged that he and others still at large used technical equipment that compromised public safety and national security.
The prosecution further claimed that the alleged act, reportedly admitted during the television interview, caused “reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians.”
He is yet to be arraigned.
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